Top five recruits
| Name |
Pos. |
Rank |
Ht. |
Wt. |
School |
| 1. Marquel Combs |
DT |
10** |
6-3 |
305 |
Pierce CC (Calif.) |
| Combs, who didn’t begin playing football until late in high school, could be a difference-maker on the defensive line. |
| 2. Chris Martin |
DE |
13** |
6-5 |
260 |
CC of San Francisco |
| A former five-star recruit who bounced around from Cal to Florida, Martin was once recruited to Notre Dame by Charlie Weis. |
| 3. Mike Smithburg |
OL |
41** |
6-3 |
300 |
Iowa Western CC |
| An honorable mention junior-college All-American, Smithburg helped Iowa Western to a national title. He could battle for a spot at guard or center. |
| 4. Kevin Short |
DB |
69** |
6-2 |
185 |
Fort Scott (Kan.) CC |
| A former all-state selection at Hazelwood Central in St. Louis, Short has played safety and corner and broke Fort Scott’s all-time interceptions mark. |
| 5. Joey Bloomfield |
OL |
57* |
6-6 |
305 |
Ballard HS (Louisville, Ky.) |
| Bloomfield, one of KU’s best high school recruits, committed last summer, but the Jayhawks had to beat out some late interest from Kansas State, among others. |
*Rivals.com national position ranking
**Rivals.com overall junior-college ranking
The one that got awayJosiah St. John, a prized offensive lineman from the juco ranks that had KU as a finalist before picking Oklahoma.
Still fishing for …A few more juco bodies? Kansas has 24 commitments — and just a few more spots remaining. With so many players in the fold, KU can be judicious in handing out its last scholarships.
Position answered for …Probably defensive line, where the Jayhawks loaded up with junior-college talents Marquel Combs, Chris Martin, Tedarian Johnson and Andrew Bolton.
Position unanswered for …Receiver. The Jayhawks snagged juco receivers Rodriguez Coleman and Mark Thomas. But the jury is still out after KU’s receivers failed to record a touchdown catch last season.
Signed (9)
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
School |
| Marquel Combs |
DT |
6-3 |
305 |
Pierce CC (Calif.) |
| Zach Fondal |
OL |
6-5 |
295 |
Navarro JC (Texas) |
| Ngalu Fusimalohi |
OL |
6-3 |
300 |
CC of San Francisco |
| Tedarian Johnson |
DT |
6-3 |
285 |
Hinds CC (Miss.) |
| Chris Martin |
DE |
6-5 |
260 |
CC of San Francisco |
| Dexter McDonald |
DB |
6-2 |
203 |
Butler (Kan.) CC |
| Trevor Pardula |
K |
6-5 |
210 |
De Anza (Calif.) HS |
| Cassius Sendish |
DB |
6-2 |
185 |
Arizona Western CC |
| Mike Smithburg |
OL |
6-3 |
300 |
Iowa Western CC |
Commitments (15)
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
School |
| Kellen Ash |
LB |
6-3 |
194 |
Parkway South HS (Ballwin, Mo.) |
| Joey Bloomfield |
OL |
6-6 |
305 |
Ballard HS (Louisville, Ky.) |
| Andrew Bolton |
DE |
6-3 |
280 |
Hinds (Miss.) CC |
| Rodriguez Coleman |
WR |
6-3 |
195 |
Garden City (Kan.) CC |
| Montell Cozart |
QB |
6-2 |
180 |
Bishop Miege |
| Jordan Darling |
QB |
6-4 |
226 |
Shawnee Mission East |
| Samson Faifili |
LB |
5-11 |
240 |
American River CC (Calif.) |
| Colton Goeas |
LB |
6-2 |
245 |
St. Louis HS (Honolulu) |
| Ishmael Hyman |
WR |
6-0 |
169 |
St. John Vianney HS (Holmdel, N.J.) |
| Marcus Jenkins-Moore |
LB |
6-3 |
210 |
Pierce CC (Calif.) |
| Ben Johnson |
TE |
6-5 |
230 |
Basehor-Linwood |
| Isaiah Johnson |
DB |
6-1 |
210 |
Iowa Western CC |
| Kevin Short |
DB |
6-2 |
185 |
Fort Scott (Kan.) CC |
| Colin Spencer |
DB |
5-10 |
179 |
Wilson HS (Dallas) |
| Mark Thomas |
WR |
6-2 |
210 |
Nassau CC (N.Y.) |
NOTE: Players who have made commitments have not signed a letter of intent; signing day is Wednesday.
